If you wish to view this area please download the latest Adobe Flash Player
Case study 3: Business development
Ryhope Development Trust
The purpose of the consultancy was to assist Ryhope Development Trust in planning for its next stage of development, in identifying suitable funders and in securing funding for the next three year period. This planning and business development exercise was undertaken in autumn 2005 for Ryhope Development Trust. We worked closely with the Trust's Board and staff member, as well as consulting with its many partner organisations. Our methodology included
- A series of facilitated review and planning sessions with the Board and staff
- Semi structured interviews with outside stakeholders
- Writing a draft business plan in close collaboration with the staff member, and discussing this in depth with the Board before finalising it
- Identifying and liaising with funders in the voluntary and public sector
- Writing funding bids, again in close collaboration with the staff member.
The work helped the Trust to work towards sustainability by
- enabling its Board and staff to build their skills and knowledge through the provision of practical, 'on the job' learning opportunities
- placing its funding on a three to five year footing
- securing and expanding its staffing
- reviewing its constitution
- moving towards becoming a legal entity such as a registered charity
- seeking payment for its services where appropriate
- improving the monitoring and evaluation of its work.
Ryhope Development Trust showed us first hand the power of a group of committed community members to effect change, in an area which finds funding difficult because it does not always meet current funding priorities. We were able to tap in to the group's existing skills and knowledge to enable them to take a real step forward in their development.